Eritrean leader ends whirlwind visits to Somalia, Kenya

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki (L) is welcomed by Somalia's President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed as he arrives at the Aden Abdulle International Airport in Mogadishu, Somalia December 13, 2018. Photo : REUTERS

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (ADV) – Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, is back home after a whirlwind visit to Somalia and Kenya on Thursday.

He left Asmara Thursday morning with the first stop over in Mogadishu upon the invitation of his counterparts, ADV reliably learned.

Somali President Mohamed Abdulahi Farmaajo invited Mr. Afwerki early this week after lawmakers in Mogadishu failed in their move to impeach the Somali leader over his alleged secret deal with neighboring Eritrea and Ethiopia.

This is the fourth time that the two leaders will be meeting over the last six months after Farmaajo flew to Asmara on a three-day official visit last July and during which the two nations reestablished diplomatic and political ties that were estranged nearly a decade ago.

Both the Somali presidency and the Eritrean ministry of information confirmed the visit of Mr. Afwerki to Mogadishu but did not provide details about the agenda.

By early noon, the Eritrean leader fly over to Nairobi to meet the Kenyan leader, Uhuru Kenyatta for a working visit that lasted a few hours, sources said.

Not much was made public after the two men held hours of talks.

Kenya has been very instrumental in the re-establishment of diplomatic and political relations over the last six months between Eritrea and her neighbours.

Sources said, the discussions between the two leaders will hinge around economic and commercial ties between the two countries.

Diplomatic sources said, security issues formed the basis of the discussions between the two leaders with Uhuru making a strong case for the support of the peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea.